the display of his graces, and commanding a view of the court dames, on some one of whom vanity perchance whispered that his handsome person might make a favourable impression; while he disdained not, meantime, to fish for the admiration of the simpler maidens who stood around him with hair smoothly combed and neatly snooded. To this motley crowd the gay colour of the women's plaids gave animation, similar to that bestowed by the gaudy tulip, when mixed in a border of more sober-coloured flowers.

.

Tedious was the interval of expectation, till the hour of two sounded from the clock of the palace; which had no sooner flung its warning on the air, than a flourish of trumpets, and the twang of bagpipes, announced the approach of their majesties. The nobles and ladies poured forth, and formed a line, reaching from the gate at which they issued, to the platform through which their majesties passed, and ascending its steps, took their seats under the canopy. A smile of exultation sat on the countenances of both, for the multitude had not disappointed their most sanguine expectation, and they looked around them with so gracious an expression, that bonnets were tumultuously thrown aloft, and the air resounded with rude shouts of gratulation and joy. The players advanced from a temporary building erected for the purpose of a tiring-room, and no sooner appeared, than profound silence reigned among the multitude. The play chosen for this occasion was the • Midsummer Night's Dream,' from the appropriateness of the place to its general scenery, and the partiality of her majesty for the plays of Shakspeare. The Amazonian Queen, and enamoured Duke, stepped forward on the turf, and the charge of the latter, which was spoken with much animation, to

Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments, G
Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth,
And turn melancholy forth to funerals,

seemed not only literally obeyed by the Scottish youth then present, but also by the hoary head of age, who all replied to it by a simultaneous shout of revelry. But as the drama proceeded, silence again reigned; and the Earl of Gowrie was perhaps, with the exception of Agnes, the only person on whom the scene immediately following, when Theseus questions Hermia, concerning her resolution to become a

Gg

nun, had other effect than that of amusement. And he was only roused from his profound reverie by the cheering given to Quince and his comrades, when they met to allot to each the characters for the performance of Pyramus and Thisbe. For here the delight of the populace, in a scene so calculated for their amusement, knew no bounds.

When the first act concluded, and the players retired to the tiring-room, the multitude began to regale themselves with such luxuries as, in this holiday time, they had provided; and many were there who, like the Squire of La Mancha, fixed their eyes upon the heavens, while the bottoms of their ale or wine-flasks were uppermost. Nor was this most delectable amusement, confined to the lower class of the audience; for a page approached his majesty with a cup of wine, which he graciously receiving, raised to his lips, and appeared to kiss the goblet with as much fervour as any of his plebeian subjects, applying to it again and again, until the players returned, habited as fairies, and the pastime proceeded, and continued to amuse the spectators more and more as it drew toward a close. Shouts of applause attended the appearance of him who represented the Lion, and who, clad in a skin of that lordly animal, came ambling through the trees, accompanied by Moonshine. They had scarce appeared, however, and given time for this expression of pleasure in the multitude to subside, when a confused and tumultuous noise was heard in the direction of the craigs, while loud vociferations of To the play-field with her, to the king with the witch!' resounded through the air, as those who uttered them approached nearer and nearer. The attention of the crowd, which had been exclusively fastened on the actors, was now transferred to the authors of the tumult. His majesty rose from his seat, and walked forward to the front of the platform, where he perceived a number of people bearing, as in triumph, a woman seated in an arm-chair, with whom they were endeavouring to force their way into the area occupied by the players. James, one of whose principal weaknesses, it is well known, was a firm belief in witchcraft, and who had a peculiar delight in examining those accused of that crime, gave orders, in a loud voice, that the people who carried the woman, should be allowed to pass with her and her accusers into the open space, and directed them forward immediately in front of his person. There they placed the chair in which the woman sat, and dragging forward a dead mastiff

by a rope fastened round his neck, laid him at her side. For some moments, with looks of mingled rage and anguish, she continued to regard the animal, that, bloody and mangled, with his eyes opened and turned up toward her face, still showed his teeth, as if grinning defiance on her enemies.

There was at all times something uncommon in the appearance of old Euphan; but now seated in the midst of an assembled multitude, all of whom she considered her adversaries, her keen black eyes flashed fire, as she turned their flame of inexpressible scorn on all sides of her, and sat erect, as if feeling herself superior to all she looked upon. There was so striking an impression of fearlessness and contempt of worldly authority stamped upon her pallid countenance, that it was impossible not to experience a degree of awe in contemplating it, as the expression of one who had survived all hope and fear. The king began to bend his attention on the old woman with a peculiar animation in his manner and countenance, which told that he was now employed to his heart's content.

Let this woman's accusers stand forth!' said James. • Please your majesty,' said a man, who directly answered to the summons, and who, from his dwarfish and elfish appearance, and the fiendish glee that seemed to possess him, might himself have been mistaken for an agent of the evil one, Please your majesty, this same auld beldame is ane o' the most pestilent witches that ever cast her cantrips ower a country-side. Lang and sair hae the people and cattle suffered for mony a mile round, frae divers' strange diseases, but the ill-daer was ne'er found out or yesterday, when a callant cam to my house, and tell't me and my niebours, that, living at Musselburgh, and rising with the gray dawn, about his maister's wark, ae morning, he had nae sooner opened the door to issue furth, than he spied a mawkin away frae it, whan, thinking to fell her, he cast a stane after her, and brak ane o' her legs; but she still ran on, hirpling on the tither three; and though he made up wi' her nows and than, she aye jinked him at some odd corner; but he fallowed, and she led him through breers and through whuns, till at the last she led him up the gully yonder, whaur he lost her. But now comes the clearest pruif that was e'er gi'en your majesty anent a witch; for what does he find out, but that this auld brimstane, whae has a house up there, has broken her leg, naebody kend how but hersel. Sae a'

body may ken, please your majesty, wha the mawkin was, I trow !'

'Are there nae mair witnesses against her than this man?' said the king. Gif there be, let them speak, that we may judge righteous judgment; for, though the evidence o' this man seemeth very clear, we wad fain examine mair deeply; and mair especially, we desire to hear the testimony o' that same callant o' whom he speakett; for, being gifted by the grace o' God wi' discernment in thae matters, we will sift this to the bottom.'

At this instant there pressed forward not less than twenty people, all eager to speak; but the boy was nowhere to be

seen.

'Mak peace!' cried his majesty ; we will hear that little auld woman in front first-Stand back, and let her say what she kens anent this matter!'

An old woman, the picture of squalid wretchedness, now came forward, and having told her story to the king, in language such as she was accustomed to use, mixed with the application of a title which she supposed the due of him, who, since the Pope was put down, must be the greater man, concluded with, now the randy's tae'n haud o', ilk ane may speak again' her; for it's weel ken'd that ye are a righteous king, please your holiness, whae especially minds that ane o' the ten commandments that says, "Ye shanna suffer a witch to live ;" and that the lunt o' a bleezing witch is as pleasant to your sight as a hale army o' sodgers was to your forbears.'

It is more than probable that his majesty did not feel any particular satisfaction in this public rehearsal of his virtues ; for he instantly silenced the speaker, and commanded, with a frown, and a voice of impatience, that those who were rushing forward with their testimony should stand back while he examined the accused,

Those who had been so anxious to testify against her, who was now become the object of public reprobation, awed by the king's command, and his irritated manner, precipitately retreated among the crowd.

Speak, woman!' said his majesty, addressing Euphan, 'what hae you to say-for there is strang evidence again' ye?'

Euphan fixed her eyes steadily and sternly on the king; -for, harassed and menaced, tormented by pain, and baited by the rabble, she had become more than usually careless of

life. Make ready,' she said, your torments, for I shall say nought in my defence; prepare your manacles and ropes, your boots, your carpie-claws, and pliriwinks, and then your stakes and faggots!-I have already been tried in the furnace seven times heated, and if I am now to ascend as a burnt-offering, what matters it? I shall soon be beyond the reach of a world I hate, and of a prince whose weakness I despise !'

• What say ye, wretched hag?' said the king, kindling into anger; we shall incontinent put to the proof thae vaunts, gif ye hae not somewhat to allege whilk may prove your innocence o' the foul crime laid to your charge; and it is o' our great mercy and graciousness that ye are now permitted to testify in your ain behalf, seeing that your speech hath already been that for whilk a less patient sovereign had alone condemned ye.'

I have already said,' replied she, that I have nought to urge in my defence. If ye are indeed so besotted as to believe that a poor crushed worm like me can do the things which those people have spoken, all I could say of mine innocence would not avail me; for I have not forgotten that ye brought to a wretched death man and woman, high and low, because when ye sailed for Denmark there was not a smooth sea, a summer sky, and soft winds, at a season when tempests are natural. Think ye then that I expect mercy at your hands?-Na! I have not forgotten that ye condemned to the burning alive my benefactress, that honourable and good lady, the daughter of your faithful servant Lord Cliftonhall.-Ye cannot torture me as ye did her, for I have no children to leave motherless-no children to wail for me!—Na, na!' said she, overcome by her recollections, and pressing her shrivelled hands against her bosom with the intensity of despair, while her countenance lost for a while its character of high daring, and assumed a subdued look of unutterable anguish, they are all lost for ever, as an arrow, which parteth the air and leaveth no trace behind, but nevertheless sticketh deep in the breast that it pierceth.-The bitterness of death is past; therefore do your pleasure, but let it be done quickly I have nought to confess. There lies the last memorial of husband and children,' she continued, looking on the dog at her side poor old brute!-that was the play-fellow of my weans, and the guard of my lonely state!-I put more respect

e;