She was dressed in white, and much as my friend described her, except that her hair hung loose, which before was twisted within a silk net. She had superadded likewise to her jacket a pale green riband, which fell across her shoulder to the waist; at the end of which hung her pipe. Her goat had been as faithless as her lover; and she had got a little dog in lieu of him, which she kept tied by a string to her girdle; as I looked at her dog, she drew him towards her with the string "Thou shalt not leave me, Sylvio," said she. I looked in Maria's eyes, and saw she was thinking more of her father than of her lover or her little goat; for as she uttered the words, the tears trickled down her cheeks. I sat down close by her; and Maria let me wipe them away as they fell, with my handkerchief. I then steeped it in my own and then in hers-and then in mine—and then I wiped hers again—and as I did it, I felt such undescribable emotions within me, as I am sure could not be accounted for from any combinations of matter and motion. I am positive I have a soul; nor can all the books, with which materialists have pestered the world, ever convince me of the contrary. When Maria had come a little to herself, I asked her if she remembered a pale thin person of a man, who had sat down betwixt her and her goat about two years before? She said, she was unsettled much at that time, but remembered it upon two accounts-that ill as she was, she saw the person pitied her; and next, that her goat had stolen his handkerchief, and she had beaten him for the theft-she had washed it, she said, in the brook, and kept it ever since in her pocket, to restore it to him in case she should ever see him again, which, she added, he had half promised her. As she told me this, she took the handkerchief out of her pocket to let me see it: she had folded it up neatly in a couple of vine leaves, tied round with a tendril-on opening it, I saw an S marked in one of the corners. She had since that, she told me, strayed as far as Rome, and walked round St. Peter's once-and returned backthat she found her way alone across the Apennines-had travelled over all Lombardy without money and through the flinty roads of Savoy without shoes: how she had borne it, and how she had got supported, she could not tell-but God tempers the wind, said Maria, to the shorn lamb. Shorn indeed! and to the quick, said I; and wast thou in my own land, where I have a cottage, I would take thee to it and shelter thee; thou shouldst eat of my own bread, and drink of my own cup-I would be kind to thy Sylvio-in all thy weaknesses and wanderings I would seek after thee and bring thee back-when the sun went down I would say my prayers, and when I had done, thou shouldst play the evening, song upon thy pipe; nor would the incense of my sacrifice be worse accepted, for entering Heaven along with that of a broken heart. Nature melted within me, as I uttered this; and Maria observing, as I took out my handkerchief, that it was steeped too much already to be of use, would needs go wash it in the stream-And where will you dry it, Maria? said I—I will dry it in my bosom, said she--it will do me good. And is your heart still so warm, Maria? said I. I touched upon the string on which hung all her sorrows -she looked with wistful disorder for some time in my, face; and then, without saying any thing, took her pipe, and played her service to the Virgin-The string I had touched ceased to vibrate-in a moment or two Maria returned to herself-let her pipe fall-and rose up. And where are you going, Maria? said I.-She said to Moulines-Let us go, said I, together. Maria put her arm within mine, and lengthening the string to let the dog follow -in that order we entered Moulines. Though I hate salutations and greetings in the marketplace, yet when we got into the middle of this I stopped to take my last look and last farewell of Maria. Maria, though not tall, was nevertheless of the first order of fine forms-affliction had touched her looks with something that was scarce earthly-still she was feminine:-and so much was there about her of all that the heart wishes, or the eyes look for in woman, that could the traces be ever worn out of her brain, and those of Eliza's out of mine, she should not only eat of my bread, and drink of my own cup, but Maria should lie in my bosom, and be unto me as a daughter. Adieu, poor luckless maiden!-imbibe the oil and wine which the compassion of a stranger, as he journeyeth on his way, now pours into thy wounds the Being who has twice bruised thee can only bind them up for ever. STERNE. CHAP. XII. THE CHAMELEON. OFT has it been my lot to mark Two travellers of such a cast, As o'er Arabia's wilds they pass'd, And on their way in friendly chat Now talk'd of this, and then of that, Discours'd awhile, 'mongst other matter, Of the chameleon's form and nature. "A stranger animal," cries one, "Sure never liv'd beneath the sun : "A lizard's body lean and long, 66' 'A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, "It's tooth, with triple claw disjoin'd; "And what a length of tail behind! "How slow it's pace! and then it's hue! "Who ever saw so fine a blue?" "Hold there!" the other quick replies, ""Tis green-I saw it with these eyes, "As late with open mouth it lay, “And warm'd it in the sunny ray; "Stretch'd at it's ease the beast I view'd, "And saw it eat the air for food." "I've seen it, Sir, as well as you, "And must again affirm it blue; "At leisure I the beast survey'd, "Extended in the cooling shade." " "Tis green! 'tis green! Sir, I assure ye""Green!" cries the other, in a fury"Why, Sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes?" " "Twere no great loss," the friend replies; "For if they always serve you thus, "You'll find 'em but of little use." So high at last the contest rose, From words they almost came to blows: When luckily came by a third; To him the question they referr'd; And begg'd he'd tell 'em, if he knew, Whether the thing was green or blue. "Sirs," cries the umpire, 66 すん cease your pother"The creature's neither one nor t'other. "I caught the animal last night, "And view'd it o'er by candlelight: “I mark'd it well-'twas black as jet"You stare-but, Sirs, I've got it yet, "And can produce it."- "Pray, Sir, do; "I'll lay my life the thing is blue." "And I'll be sworn, that, when you've seen "The reptile, you'll pronounce him green." "Well then, at once to ease the doubt," Replies the man, "I'll turn him out: "And when before your eyes I've set him, If you don't find him black, I'll eat him." He said; then full before their sight Produc'd the beast, and lo!—'twas white. Both star'd, the man look'd wond'rous wise→→→ My children," the chameleon cries, (Then first the creature found a tongue,) You all are right, and all are wrong: "When next you talk of what you view, "Think others see as well as you: "Nor wonder, if you find that none "Prefers your eyesight to his own.” MERRICK. CHAP. XIII. THE YOUTH AND THE PHILOSOPHER. A GRECIAN youth of talents rare, Would often boast his matchless skill, Was praise and transport to his breast. At length quite vain, he needs would shew His master what his art could do ; And bade his slaves the chariot lead The trembling grove confess'd it's fright, Howe'er the youth, with forward air, Triumphant to the goal return'd, Amazement seiz'd the circling crowd |