lessly around him!) his chest, his limbs, his port! Ah, Valentine, they will go further for him in Sir Humphrey's good graces than if he had the dark eye and jetty hair that won his foolish mother! "-and Magdalene wreathed her white fingers in her husband's sable locks.

"Well, love," said Chetwynd; "so they but win one, whom for thy sake I grieve to write FOE, I would my own locks were sandy, aud my own spindle shanks (here Valentine looked down smilingly on the graceful symmetry of his limbs) were something more resembling millposts."

"Oh hush, Sir Valentine, I must not, even in joke, hear my poor father jeered. Alas! who knows but to careless jibes like these thou owest all his dreadful enmity?"

"Faith 'tis like enough, for I certainly used to love harassing him with my guips, and have laughed to see how his heavy artillery-but a truce to this, or by that flashing eye I shall find Sir Humphrey hath a daughter. Felix, hither!" and at the word our old acquaintance Redmayne, who stood at a respectful distance, approached.

"Repair to the aisles of the nave, watch the entrance of Sir Humphrey Stanley, and then "— he concluded by a whisper.-and then raising his voice added" Keep the lad in view but be not seen thyself."

"It shall be done to the letter, my master," was Redmayne's reply; "and as to keeping out of sight, trust me six years absence have not made me anxious to renew our acquaintance."

"How now Marmaduke, my prince," said Chetwynd to his son; "art minded to see more of this gay shew?"

"I'm minded to see more of the good knights and fair dames than this old gloomy hole is likely to show me," replied the child; "for I am to be a knight some day myself, and I must learn how to carry myself, and I shall wed a gay lady too, and must see how thay are to be wooed. But Felix so holds me in."

"And if Felix lets thee loose wilt not run away, if any bold knight lays hand on thee?"

The child coloured, and with a tiny stamp, pointed to his gilded lath dagger, and said" He shall brook this ere I budge!"

Valentine laughed aloud, and glancing at Magdalene, who was gazing with a mother's delight on the boy's dauntless bearing.

"Our good father's mood will not

lack a representative thou seest, any more than his thews and sinews."

"Away, away!" said Lady Chetwynd, "we lose time. Felix watch the child heedfully, thou art thyself a father, think of Judith and thy little ones at Ingestre: thou hast many, but this is our only one."

Felix kissed the hand that was extended towards him and withdrew, Marmaduke bounding gleefully by his side, while the Knight and his lady entered the chapel, dimly lit by two large tapers, though it was then high day, and kneeling at the altar, after crossing their brows from a fluted stoup of holy water, were absorbed for some time in deep devotion. They then arose, and without further colloquy rejoined the royal train, who after making offerings at several shrines, had now approached the high altar.

Sir Humphrey Stanley, in obedience to the royal command, had repaired to London with his lady, and a numerous train of attendants; and, on the morning of the bridal, was preparing to set forth from his lodging, a handsome mansion assigned to him by his noble cousin of Derby, when a man of foreign garb and feature was ushered into his chamber, with whom he remained closeted for some time; the man then quitted the house, and Sir Humphrey repaired with his lady and suite to St. Paul's.

The ceremonies were now nearly concluded, and Marmaduke watched at a distance by Redmayne, who was amusing his boyish curiosity near the great west door. Many a knight and lady had attracted the free gaze and elicited the frank observations of the child, and many had paused to admire and caress him. But the nave was now nearly deserted, and he began to grow weary, when his sudden exclamation aroused Felix.

"Ah! here comes another at last, and the bravest of them all."

With these words Marmaduke bounded forward, (certain of the accustomed caress) so suddenly, that a personage of noble stature, superbly habited, and leading a lady, whose sad demeanour and pale features ill accorded with her sumptuous dress, nearly stumbled over the boy. The gentleman stopped, and with a deep and hasty accent, exclaimed

"And what would ye with me, my young peascod!"

"In faith, nothing, I," replied the lad proudly, "an ye be pleased to look

so black and speak so like old father Austin that sets me my tasks at home" "But what if I speak thee fair?" said the knight, struck in spite of his sullen mood, as Magdalene had predicted, with Marmaduke's air and voice.

"Why then, I will say that thou art the gallantest gentleman that hath entered Paul's this day."

"And what wilt thou say of me?" asked the pale lady, partaking in a stronger degree of her husband's emotion.

"Ah!" said Marmaduke, and there he stopt.

66

Speak, my brave fellow," said the gentleman, and motioning his followers to stand apart, he seated himself on a stone seat under the flat arches in a side aisle, and took the boy between his knees, while the lady bent wistfully over him.

"Why then, if she were not so white, she would be like my mother."

The knight's face became blood-red, and in the next moment ashy pale, and the lady caught by the massy pillar to prevent her falling. A silence ensued broken by Lady Stanley's faltering tones.

"And who is thy mother, my beauteous boy?" she gasped for an answer.

"How-know ye not my mother? all whom I have seen to-day knew her; nay, then, I shall be chidden, they ever chide me when I prate as they call it," and Marmaduke struggled to extricate himself from the gentle yet strong grasp of Sir Humphrey, in whose bosom, Nature, so long outraged, began imperiously to resume her sway; even self-love here joined her cause, for never was miniature so faithfully delineated, as the robust form and bluff features of Sir Humphrey Stanley in the budding frame of Marmaduke Chetwynd.

Stay, child," he said, almost clasping him to his breast; "stay, and tell the lady where we may send the roan poney and the new bow and arrows, that shall be for thine own use."

Marmaduke's face brightened as his grandsire spoke, but as suddenly it became overcast.

"Ah, but it will chafe my father, and grieve my lady mother, and I must not do that for

"For why my child ?"

"For she often tells me what a heavy sin it is to grieve a parent, and then her eyes are all wet with tears; and she tells me how she once offended her parents, and has never been quite ince."

cast.

"Tell me, wilt thou add thyself to thy grandsire's foes?"

"No!" answered the child in a low voice, "for, once I told my mother that I would, but she wept so and said the thought would kill her, and so I wept too, and promised if I could to love her father."

The loud sudden swell of the organ, and the voices of the distant choristers, now pealed through the Minster, and the royal company began to pour through the great arch that separated the choir from the Nave. As the gorgeous procession, uncoiling its flood of colours, swept up the Nave, canopies and banners floating over crowns, coronets, and mitres, (let the pageant-lov ing Hall give the particulars,) Felix Redmayne, who had watched the propitious event of his scheme, had quitted the nave to impart it to Sir Valentine and his lady. The groupe whose affecting colloquy we have just detailed were in a dusky aisle sufficiently screened from observation, but as the van of the procession gleamed from under the distant archway, Sir Humphrey starting up hastily, resigned Marmaduke to his grandame, (who was loading the child with caresses), and seemed to be struggling to resume his haughty state, when a light hand was laid on his shoulder," a few words of imperfect English melted

on his ear, and as he turned, a youthful female met his view, whose countenance, at once amiable and majestic, (though its comeliness was somewhat clouded by habitual gravity,) needed not the bridal crown and costume to announce the future Queen of England; while, at her side, a young man also with a crowned brow, and in cloth of gold, whose purple tissue denoted a Prince of the blood royal, stood, the phantom of that regality which he was not destined to share with his bride.

Marmaduke was at once forgotten by both Sir Humphrey and his lady, and off he hied, not loth to be released, in search of new amusement, while Stanley and his wife hastily threw themselves on their knees before the royal pair, and offered their duteous congratulations.

"Rise, friends," said the prince, "for such we would fain esteem those who are so nearly allied to one whom we love and honour. Think not it is on a sleeveless errand we have quitted yonder gay company. Our royal father himself hath despatched us, and though we looked for you earlier, Sir Knight, we trust we are not too late to ask and to obtain a boon on this our bridal day."

The Prince then condescended to plead earnestly for the Lady Chetwynd, aided by Katherine, whose sweet tones rendered her broken English the more irresistible. But we really have dilated, and continue to dilate so much, that our story will never end unless we briefly say what was not briefly done, that after many struggles,Sir Humphrey's pride and passion, already much weakened, at length gave way, and that once effected, it was with sincere love that he clasped his forgiven daughter to his heart, and with kindness grasped the readily extended hand of Sir Valentine. The Princess now inquired for her little godson.

To be continued.

Snatches from Oblivion.

Out of the old fields cometh the new corn. SIR E. COKE.

LETTER OF DRYDEN THE POET.

The distress and consequent humiliation of mind to which Dryden was reduced, have long been urged as proofs of the shameful neglect which has generally been shewn to men of genius. The subsequent letter of "glorious

John" will not have the effect of rendering us doubtful of so unfortunate a circumstance. It was written to the noble lord who was prime minister to Charles the Second:

March, 1673-4.

My Lord;-I know not whether my lord Sunderland has interceded with your lordship for half a year of my salary; but I have two advocates, my extreme wants, even almost to arresting; and my state of ill health, which cannot be repaired without my immediate retiring into the country. A quarter's allowance is but Jesuit's powder to my disease; the fit will return a fortnight hence. If I durst, I would plead a little merit, and some hazards of my life from the common enemies, and my refusing advantages offered by them, and neglecting my beneficial studies for the king's service; but I only think I merit not to starve. I never applyed myself to any interest contrary to your lordship's; and, on some occasions, perhaps not known to you, have not been unservicable to the memory and reputation of my lord your father. After this, my lord, my conscience assures me I may write boldly, though I cannot speak to you. I have three sonns growing to man's estate; I bred them all up to learning, beyond my fortune; but they are too hopeful to be neglected, though I want. Be pleased to look on me with an eye of compassion; some small employment would render my condition easy. The king is not unsatisfyed of me; the duke has often promised me his assistance; and your lordship is the conduit through which their favours passe. Either in the Customs, or the appeales of the Excise, or some other way; meanes cannot be wanting if you please to have the will. 'Tis enough for one age to have neglected Mr. Cowley, and starved Mr. Butler, but neither of them had the happiness to live till your lordship's ministry. In the mean time, be pleased to give me a gracious and speady answer to my present request, of half a yeare's pension for my necessityes. I am going to write somewhat by his majesty's command, and cannot stirr into the country for my health and studies till I secure my family from want. You have many petitions of this nature, and cannot satisfy all; but I hope from your goodness to be made an exception to your general rule, because I am, with all sincerity,--Your lordship's most obedient humble servant, JOHN DRYDEN.