Mifcellanies. 25. The Importance of religious Establish- Monthly Epitome of new Publications CH Narrative of the Lofs of his Majesty's Ship. Profperine. By the rft Lieut. 6d. Wright. Letter to the Anti-Jacobin Reviewers. Spirit of the Public Journals for 1798. Beauties of the Anti-Jacobin, and Weekly-Examiner. 53. Chappel. New Catalogue of Living English Authors, with Lifts of their Publications, and Biographical and Critical Memoirs, Vol. I. 78. Faulder. The Female Advocate. Vernor and Hood. ANGELINA;-A TALE. Harles Brunville, at the early_age of two-and-twenty, obtained a Cap. taincy in the Guards; and being liberally fupplied by his friends, who were of the firft refpectability, was enabled to appear in every respect as a man of fashion: yet, gifted as he was by nature and for. tune, his affections were of a more humble nature than accorded with the proud views of his family. Angelina, the daughter of an aged veteran, whom misfortune had reduced to a ftate of indigence, was the object of his most ardent love, and the returned his honourable and difinterefted, paffion with the warmth of uncontaminated innocence. The oppofition which his father made to his union with Angelina, though it did not alter his determination, in fome degree reftrained him; and, in the life time of Cleveland, he forbore to act in open defiance of their authority. His death, however, throwing her entirely upon him for protection, induced him to facrifice every confideration to preserve the woman he adored; and he prevailed upon Angelina to accept his hand, and introduced her to his family, as one he was determined to protect from injury or infult at the hazard of his life and fortune. 38. fewed. Exafperated by this declaration, Mr Brunville inftantly forbade him the house, and cut him off entirely from any claim upon the eftate, as a punishment defervedly incurred by his disobedience. Young and fanguine in his expectations, the pecuniary lofs affected Captain Brunville but little, and the ftrength of his love for a woman, fo undefervedly despised, rather increafed than abated. For a fhort time they subsisted in a state of genteel affluence upon his pay; but a love of diffipation, which he never had prudence to reftrain, and an increase of family, involved them in the greatest embarrassments; and, as there are numerous temptations and refources in London, Brunville was not long a novice in the ways of the world. The gaming-tables were repeatedly vifited, nor was he roufed from his delufion, till he found himself the dupe of villainy he returned, pillaged and involved, to his familyhis father would not advance him a fhilling to fave him from perpetual imprifonment, and his children wanted the ne ceffaries of life.-To one gentleman he owed two thousand pounds; he was importunate for payment, and Brunville could not raise a twentieth of the fum. "Will you," cried he, almost diftras Pp2 ted ted, "deareft Angelina, go to Mr Barfleur?-inexorable as he is, he will furely be moved by the fight of fuch virtue in diftrefs. Take our beauteous little innocents they will plead to his heart! -Excellent girl, forgive this requeft, dictated by neceffity.' Angelina paufed a moment-tears filled her eyes the ftruggle of her feelings was hard; but affection for her husband overcame the timidity of her nature, and, throwing her arms around him, the cried "Have I not been the caufe of all your fufferings? Has not your fatal attachment to me reduced you to this? ·And shall I refuse to save you, if in my ́ power, from a noifome dungeon! Oh! let me go immediately, my dear Charles." As a great deal depends upon a first appearance, Angelina habited her children in the most attractive yet fimple garb, and haftened with them to the houfe of Mr Barfleur. She was admitted immediately, and had every reafon to fear, from the fternness of his features, a rejection of her petition. Kneeling, with upraised hands and fupplicating looks, the implored his compaffion; while fhe was fupported on one fide by a graceful boy, whofe eyes were raised with the most expreffive earneftnefs to the furrowed face of Mr Barfleur, as his arm fondly encircled the peck of his mother; and a lovely little girl, about fix years old, hid her face with her hand, and wept in fympathy. Mr Barfleur was inconceivably affect ed, and, raising her kindly, affured her that, though he would never forgive the leaft appearance of impofition, he was fo well convinced of her fincerity, he would do all in his power to ferve Captain Brunville and her. He was as good as his word: the bond was cancelled; the children placed, at his expence, in reputable fchools; and an annual ftipend fettled on Brunville, till he could, by economy, retrieve his affairs. A few years rendered his generofity to the Captain-ufelefs; he fell in a defperate engagement, and Mrs Brunville, never recovering the fhock of his death, followed him to the grave in a few months. Still extending his benevolence to the orphan children, he placed Charles in the army; and, finding Angelina daily acquiring fresh beauties, his heart expanded to her with a warmth of fentiment he had fcarcely ever felt before. Attached to him by gratitude, the artlefs careffes of Angelina augmeuted his paf fion; and he determined, in defiance of the world's cenfure, to make her his wife. Angelina had fcarcely feen any other man in her life; certainly loved none fo well; and confidering little the nature of the engagement, or the disparity of their years, confented without the fmalleft reluctance, as the moft effectual method of enfuring his perpetual protection for herself and brother, whofe return now was hourly defigned from a foreign expedition, when the ceremony was expected to take place immediately. The wifhed-for period arrived-Charles rufhed into the arms of an affectionate fiftera kind benefactor. With him he brought a youth; introduced to their notice as one who, at the risque of his own life, had been the preferver of his, in an enterprize of imminent danger. The modeft and penfive looks of the young ftranger fpoke ftrongly in his favour; and upon being queftioned by Mr Barfleur refpecting his name and family, he replied, with an air of diftrefs and humility "Excufe me, Sir, on a subject that gives me the most poignant grief. I knew but one parent: fhe fell the victim of parental cruelty, and base feduction; yet her virtues were fuch as reflect fhame on her perfecutors; and I live to lament her misfortunes, and revenge her wrongs !" As his fine countenance was agitated by contending paffion, Angelina furveyed him with mixed furprize and admiration, and, for the first time, wished her deftined husband otherwise than he really was. Barfleur watched her with looks of mistrust, and trembled for his own fuccefs, when contrafted, as he now was, with youth and beauty. Charles finding he had done wrong in introducing a firanger, apologized with the most respectful timidity; and as Barfleur could do no less than give him a courteous reception, a fhort time removed all appearance of reftraint. Charles expreffed the moft unfeigned astonishment at the propofed arrangement, yet it was unmixed with diffatisfaction ; and Angelina fighed as her lips moved in confirmation of the intelligence. The young ftranger gazed attentively at the whole party, and again relapsed into a state of dejection. In a few days every thing was prepared for the nuptials; and as the hour approached, the heart of Angelina funk with reluctance. A heavy gloom fat on the brow of Charles, and a tear fell upon the hand of his fifter as he raised it to his lips to congratulate gratulate her on her approaching happinefs. On the morning appointed for the ceremony the ftranger was no where to be found; but in the dreffing room was the following note, addreffed to Charles Brunville: "An unhappy paffion, which not even the utmost exertion of my reason can refrain, has occafioned me to act in this myfterious manner. The partiality which your friendship has procured me from your lovely fifter, may, in time, be productive of fatal confequences; and as I dare not attempt to injure the benefactor of one I fo much efteem, I muft tear myfelf for ever from an object so attract ing as Angelina. To hear of her welfare is all the confolation I dare hope for; and my moft fervent prayers fhall be of fered up for her happinefs. EDGAR." Charles inftantly put this note into his patron's hand, and watched his eyes with the moft eager attention. Barfleur read it in vifible agitation: his hand fhook, and tears filled his eyes"Tell me, candidly, Charles," cried he, "do you imagine Angelina has a partiality for this youth ?-Remember, I question you upon your honour! Charles tremblingly replied-" I dare not deceive you, Sir-I suspect she has.” Barfleur fruck his forehead in doubt and uneafinefs-"I fee my error," cried he," and am defervedly punished: but fuffer what I may, I will act in an honourable manner-I fwore to be the friend of your mother, of her children; and I will prove myfelf fo-not by binding an innocent, lovely girl in bonds of misery! -but, by making two worthy hearts happy, deferve happiness myself. You, Charles, I fuppofe, know where your friend is to be found. Recall him; and if I find, upon further inveftigation, that he is worthy of my Angelina, fhe fhall be all his own." Penetrated with joy, Charles bleffed his benefactor with undiffembled fincerity, and inftantly wrote to Edgar, who had joined his company, to return, as the a leave of abfence granted them was not yet expired, acquainting him with the whole tranfaction. Edgar returned immediately; and after paying his acknowledgements was clofeted with Mr Barfleur. When they returned, a gleam of the most heart-felt pleature fhone on all his features, and, prefenting him to Angelina, he faid-- "Heaven, my dear children, never fails to reward a benevolent action. By defigning good to others, I have myfelf derived a moft effential benefit. I blufh, even at this advanced age, to recall to mind the follies of my youth. Edgar is my fon!--Ly me was his mother feduced and abandoned; yet I have fince fuffered pangs of the deepest anguish. My child fhall now be rewarded for the injury I did his mother; and Angelina thall no longer be conftrained to me as a husband, but pay me, voluntarily, the love of an affectionate and dutiful child." The exultation of confcious virtue fparkled in his eyes as his children knelt round him; and, extending his hands with a paternal benedicion, he exclaimed-" Would I exchange this blissful moment for what a felfish gratification, founded on the mifery of another, could produce? No, no!-Happiness is only to be found in difpenfing it to others; and I now feel that, however paffion or prejudice may delude us, the benefits we confer on others are reflected tenfold upon, ourselves by the bleffing of a peaceful confcience." A fhort time after Edgar's union with a moft amiable woman, Mr Barfleur waited on her grandfather; and, after informing him of every event, prevailed. on him to fee the children of his unfor tunate fon. Pride, operating as powerfully as affection, induced him to comply; and their engaging manners foon fo effectually removed every unfavourable impreffion, that, at his death, they became fole poffeffors of his immenfe fortune. More dear the dew of evening sky That pearled once thy moffy neft, Than Summer flowers of varied dye That oft thy wiry prifon drest. More fweet to thee the Plantane's feed Peck'd where its gloffy leaves expand, Than on the fweetest grains to feed Tender'd by gentle Anna's hand. Then mourn not, Maid! the ruffled wing, The plumes that all disorder'd lie; Perhaps thy Linnet lives to fing Again beneath a purer sky. Perhaps in fields of filver light, When Lunar maids their lovers fpurn, Chang'd by caprice, their downward flight They take, in Linnet-forms to mourn. Perhaps thefe liquid warblings sweet To leave its love in yonder sphere. "Chide med'cine's God, whofe hand with" held relief; "Chide the relentless Fates, by fong un"mov'd. "Breathe chilling blight on each Parnaffian "glade ; "Call from their withering bowers th' "Aonian quire: "In fabler ftole array the tragic maid; "Let fad Thalia trail the inverted lyre. "Beckon the Dryad from each rifted oak; "From mountain dells be Oreads heard "to figh; "From lake and ftream the Naiad train " convoke; "From coral groves let Nereid plaints grieve: "His lyre, a new-born star, in Heav'n fuf"pend; "Let meads of Afphodel his fhade re"ceive." Hence, Pagan dreams! I mourn a Christian dead: Avaunt! his Chriftian friend a Chriftian weeps: Hence, fabled gods, of doubt and folly bred Here ('twas his loftiest praise) a Chriftian flceps. Shall the pale meteor, whose illufive light Through fegs and darkness gleam'd on Gentle eyes Survive the reign of antiquated night, To claim the empire of meridian skies? Hence, Pagan dreams! Too oft poetic youth In Grecian robe hath ftalk'd on British plains; With hackney'd fiction deck'd the fong of truth, And pranc'd with freedom's air in claffic chains. O'er Mafon's grave let nobler forrows flow; O'er Mafon's grave let nobler themes af cend : Themes, that nor shame the head that refts below, Nor him who mourns, but mourns in Better, by Fancy if the robe be plann'd, That wraps the Poet in fepulchral state, In British loom the purple woof expand, With British hues the flowery verge dilate. Yes, there are native flowers, to Mason dear By Mafon nurs’'d, that fairer tints might yield Than Than those, the vaunted glory of the year, Unfurl thy eagle wing, to Mona fpeed, trace. Pierce the dread midnight of her holiest wood, The unhewn fane, the living* sphere obteft; Paufe where of old the guileful Romant ftood, And guilt and horror fmote his iron breast. There, on that turf, to facred grief confign'd, Beneath the central oak's mysterious fhade, Where pale in death Arviragus reclin'd, Even on that turf be Mafon's reliques laid. Thither, from dens beneath, from cliffs above, Let Druids, Bards, a forrowing throng, repair: There let each dark rob'd Prieftefs of the grove Whirl the red torch, and shake her kreaming hair. Then let the frantic burft of woe rebound In wildeft fymphony from every steep! Then ring, ye notes that Mona's Bards "fhould found;" יין * Then gufh, ye" tears that Mona's Bards "fhould weep Or, Fancy, feek in Harewood's fhade the dell, Aulus Didius.-See the first Scene of Cara&tacus. For *See the Dirge fung over the dead body of Arviragus.-Mafon's Poems, vol. iii. p. 14. See the laft Scene in Elfrida. |